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zraitor's review against another edition
3.0
There are a variety of good ideas here; however, most of the stories zip by so fast that I didn't really feel attached to anything happening. On the flip side, I suppose they never stuck around too long to offend, either. I didn't find any story to be terrible, but only a few interested me in the end.
In my opinion, Mrs Pendleton's Corpse, The Undertow, The King of Gorse, and Snick were the standouts and my favorites. They showcased the humor, weirdness, and horror that you want from this kind of collection.
As a whole, it's a decent and quick read that will have at least a few stories you find enjoyable, if not more, due to differing tastes.
In my opinion, Mrs Pendleton's Corpse, The Undertow, The King of Gorse, and Snick were the standouts and my favorites. They showcased the humor, weirdness, and horror that you want from this kind of collection.
As a whole, it's a decent and quick read that will have at least a few stories you find enjoyable, if not more, due to differing tastes.
historybooksandtea's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
olliewheaton's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
chris_davies's review against another edition
2.0
If you are going to write an introduction in which you place yourself alongside the likes of M.R. James, Sheridan Le Fanu and Ambrose Bierce, you had better have some pretty impressive material to back it up. Sadly, for me, Paul Draper falls a long way short.
What I found here was a collection of very short tales, most of which lack any sort of suspense or surprise. For the most part, they tread well worn and predictable paths, in such a brief fashion that there is no time to even begin to build some tension. It might not be so bad if there was something in the writing style to catch the eye, but it is very plain, almost as if these were treatments or first drafts for longer stories.
It's not all bad - one or two stories buck the trend by providing something different - a touch of humour in 'Mrs Pendleton's Corpse' and of the surreal in 'The Undertow'. But these are nuggets of flavour in what is otherwise rather bland fare. I wanted to like it, I really did, keeping it by my bedside in the hope of some late night scares but, unlike the ghosts, these didn't materialise.
If you are looking for great, really short tales, try Janet Frame. If it's ghost stories you want, this book at least serves to provide a list of authors to seek out.
What I found here was a collection of very short tales, most of which lack any sort of suspense or surprise. For the most part, they tread well worn and predictable paths, in such a brief fashion that there is no time to even begin to build some tension. It might not be so bad if there was something in the writing style to catch the eye, but it is very plain, almost as if these were treatments or first drafts for longer stories.
It's not all bad - one or two stories buck the trend by providing something different - a touch of humour in 'Mrs Pendleton's Corpse' and of the surreal in 'The Undertow'. But these are nuggets of flavour in what is otherwise rather bland fare. I wanted to like it, I really did, keeping it by my bedside in the hope of some late night scares but, unlike the ghosts, these didn't materialise.
If you are looking for great, really short tales, try Janet Frame. If it's ghost stories you want, this book at least serves to provide a list of authors to seek out.
armchair_vibes's review
4.0
Nice little collection of creepy stories that make a perfect read for those autumn / halloween vibes. At less than a 100 pages its a quick read but there are some really unsettling moments and some dark endings. Highly recommended.
bethcgreenberg's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not normally a fan of horror, but having read and immensely enjoyed some of the author's other work, I decided to stretch my comfort zone a bit. Paul Draper's Black Gate Tales transports the reader with elegant language and exotic settings to a separate place and time where the gruesome twists and turns feel chillingly possible, even inevitable. Much like the gorgeous cover that drew me in, each of the short stories promises a certain darkness that is part and parcel to the natural beauty of the world - a force, the narrator seems to be saying, that cannot be defeated and may not even be worth fighting. The author makes great use of natural detail (individual bird calls or spider biology, for example) to bring the reader up close and intimate with the narrator's sensual experiences- whether she wishes to be or not! My favorite story by far was the second, "Mrs. Pendleton's Corpse," which had me laughing out loud with her shouty caps way of bossing around the village undertaker. This is a great collection well worth the read savored over a week's time or gobbled up in a single sitting.
tikirunt's review against another edition
The stories were just sad, and I did not enjoy the writing style.
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